The gladiator returns to the coliseum…

Last updated on: September 15, 2012 at 12:22 pm by Jeffrey Overstreet

The gladiator returns to the coliseum… 2012-09-15T12:22:09-06:00 Jeffrey Overstreet

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Paul Giamatti stars in “Gladiator 2: Cinderella Man”

I haven’t seen Cinderella Man yet, but man, the hype around this movie is building, and the momentum it’s gaining looks likely to guarantee it a spot as an Oscar favorite.

Think about it: It’s the Oscar-winning team of the vastly overrated *A Beautiful Mind—*Russell Crowe and Ron Howard, together again. But THIS time, Crowe is reprising his role as the Gladiator:

a thoughtful family man working hard for a living during tough times
forced to deal in violence in order to hold on to what he loves
the burden of a nation on his shoulders as he steps into the coliseum
faced with overcoming impossible odds and dealing with foes whose evil deeds ensure that they deserve the sensationalized violence we’ll see delivered
and all of this in front of an astonished crowd.

This time, though, Paul Giamatti, who has TWICE had sensational performances overlooked for Oscar nominations, will finally get that nomination. But it’ll be for the wrong movie. He’ll get it this time because he’s agreed to be part of a big glossy Hollywood movie where he’s playing a handsome hero’s sidekick. The Academy would much rather praise him for appearing in a big crowdpleaser than for doing stronger, more complicated work in something independent and less popular (American Splendor, Sideways.) And with THAT out of the way, you can bet that Giamatti won’t win a Best Actor Oscar anytime soon. His integrity, and his lack of celebrity ego, seems to disqualify him from being recognized in the ranks of Sean Penn and Russell Crowe, where he belongs.

At his blog, Peter Chattaway comes close to damning the film with faint praise.

…my wife and I saw the film not too long ago and we both liked it, but overall I find it as disposably entertaining as most of Howard’s films; indeed, much of it has already faded from my memory.

…

One thing that does kinda got on my nerves, actually, is the way pretty much all of the boxers Crowe meets in the ring are basically unsympathetic characters, to one degree or another. Everybody wants Crowe to win … the film has to make sure that we really, really won’t mind that he beats these people up.

Meanwhile, Chattaway also notes a report at The Revealer, where they’ve discovered that the film is being heavily promoted to the Christian audiences. It’ll be interesting to see what makes this film a hot choice specifically for the Christian market.

I want to like this film. I really really do. I want to see a Ron Howard film that makes me think I don’t have to approach his work anymore with that sense that I’m about to waste two hours of my life on crowdpleasing, challenge-free, predictable entertainment. But this smells like a movie designed by a committee, a product carefully calculated to win big box office and Academy Awards.

In less than a week, I’ll let you know how it all turns out.

Previous Post

May 27, 2005

Happy Birthday, Bruce Cockburn!

Next Post

May 29, 2005 Get ready for the Criterion DVD of "Au Hasard Balthazar"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Bloggers on "Through a Screen Darkly" Browser Coming Soon Endorsements Fiction Books Film Forum Film Reviews Inspirations Interviews Journal Kindlings Muse Movie buzz Music Reviews Non-Fiction Books radio Reviewers on "Through a Screen Darkly" The Auralia Thread Through a Screen Darkly Through a Screen Darkly - Bonus Materials Top 10 (or 20 or 100) lists Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 July 2003 May 2003 March 2003 September 1999

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many disciples did Jesus have?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Twelve Ten Seven Twenty